A nozzle insertion member is in a powder container that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing structure to move to an opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the inserted conveying nozzle, and to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member, and a seal arranged at the nozzle insertion opening and including a through hole into which the conveying nozzle is insertable. The opening/closing structure includes a front cylindrical portion to contact with an inner surface of the through hole, and a slide area formed on another side relative to the front cylindrical portion. W1<W4 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the through hole, and W4 is an outer diameter of the slide area.
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11. A nozzle receiver for use with a powder container, the nozzle receiver comprising:
a shutter to open an opening of the nozzle receiver to an open position when the shutter is pressed by a nozzle of an image forming apparatus, and to close the opening to a closed position when not being pressed by the nozzle of the image forming apparatus;
means for supporting the shutter between the open position and the closed position, the means for supporting including an end and an opening at the end of the means for supporting, the opening of the means for supporting including a flat surface;
means for biasing the shutter toward the closed position; and
means for guiding the shutter relative to the opening of the means for supporting, the means for guiding including a flat surface parallel to an axial length of the means for supporting,
wherein when the shutter is at the open position, the flat surface of the means for guiding faces the flat surface of the opening.
1. A nozzle receiver for use with a powder container, the nozzle receiver comprising:
a shutter to open an opening of the nozzle receiver to an open position when the shutter is pressed by a nozzle of an image forming apparatus, and to close the opening of the nozzle receiver to a closed position when not being pressed by the nozzle of the image forming apparatus;
a support to support the shutter between the open position and the closed position, the support including an end and an opening at the end of the support, the opening at the end of the support including a flat surface; and
an elongated guide at the shutter and extending parallel to an axial length of the support, the elongated guide including a flat surface parallel to the axial length of the support, the elongated guide disposed within the opening at the end of the support,
wherein when the shutter is at the open position, the flat surface of the elongated guide faces the flat surface of the opening at the end of the support.
2. The nozzle receiver according to
a biasing member, within the support, that biases the shutter toward the closed position, the biasing member being within the support.
3. A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to another end where an opening of the powder storage is located; and
the nozzle receiver according to
4. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the powder container according to
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer using the powder conveyed from the powder container.
6. The powder container according to
7. The powder container according to
the powder storage comprises a gear whose rotation causes the rotary conveyor to move powder within the powder storage towards the opening thereof and causes the support of the nozzle receiver to rotate in a manner which corresponds to the rotation of the gear.
8. The nozzle receiver according to
the support includes the opening of the nozzle receiver, and the opening of the nozzle receiver is integral with the end of the support which is opposite to the opening of the nozzle receiver.
9. The nozzle receiver according to
the support guides the shutter between the open position and the closed position.
10. The nozzle receive according to
a tip of the elongated guide is divided into two.
12. The nozzle receiver according to
the means for biasing is within the support.
13. A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to another end where an opening is of the powder storage is located; and
the nozzle receiver according to
14. An image forming apparatus comprising:
the powder container according to
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer using the powder conveyed from the powder container.
16. The powder container according to
17. The powder container according to
the powder storage comprises a gear whose rotation causes the rotary conveyor to move powder within the powder storage towards the opening thereof and causes the means for supporting of the nozzle receiver to rotate in a manner which corresponds to the rotation of the gear.
18. The nozzle receiver according to
the means for supporting includes the opening of the nozzle receiver, and the opening of the nozzle receiver is integral with the end of the means for supporting which is opposite to the opening of the nozzle receiver.
19. The nozzle receiver according to
the means for supporting guides the shutter between the open position and the closed position.
20. The nozzle receive according to
a tip of the elongated means for guiding is divided into two.
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The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/503,478, filed Jul. 4, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/028,897, filed Jul. 6, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,401,760), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/822,044, filed Nov. 24, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,048,621), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/239,356, filed Aug. 17, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,857,729), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/186,417, filed Feb. 21, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,465,317), which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-034830, filed Feb. 25, 2013, Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-054370, filed Mar. 15, 2013, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-108362, filed May 22, 2013. The entire contents of each of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference in entirety. The present application also incorporates by reference the entire contents of International Publication No. WO2013/183782, which designates the United States.
The present invention relates to a powder container, a nozzle insertion member attached to the powder container, and an image forming apparatus including the powder container.
In electrophotographic image forming apparatuses, a toner replenishing device supplies (replenishes) toner, which serves as developer that is powder, from a toner container, which serves as a powder container for storing the developer, to a developing device. A toner container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-133349 includes a rotatable cylindrical powder storage, a conveying nozzle receiver fixed to the powder storage, an opening arranged in the conveying nozzle receiver, and an opening/closing member that moves to a closing position to close the opening and an opening position to open the opening along with insertion of the conveying nozzle of the powder replenishing device. When the toner container is attached to the powder replenishing device, the conveying nozzle is inserted in the toner container and the conveyor conveys the toner to the developing device. Therefore, the toner adheres to the opening/closing member, the conveying nozzle receiver, and the conveying nozzle located inside the toner container. Therefore, it is preferable to prevent a cohesion of the adhered toner from being formed and conveyed to the inside of the image forming apparatus along with rotation of the toner container, in order to prevent generation of abnormal images with large drops splattered on a white background (so-called black-spot images).
An object of the present invention is to prevent powder cohesion with a simple structure.
According to an embodiment, a nozzle insertion member arranged in a powder container includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted. The nozzle insertion member includes an opening/closing member, a supporting member, and a biasing member. The opening/closing member moves to an opening position so as to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member. The supporting member supports the opening/closing member so as to guide the opening/closing member to the opening position and the closing position. The supporting member is formed with an opening thereon. The biasing member is provided to the supporting member and biases the opening/closing member toward the closing position. When the powder in the powder container is supplied to the conveying nozzle inserted into the nozzle insertion opening along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the rotary conveyor. The opening/closing member is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism along with rotation of the supporting member. The drive transmitting mechanism includes an elongated member that is arranged on the opening/closing member so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the conveying nozzle and that penetrates through the opening formed on the supporting member; a drive transmitted portion formed on the elongated member; and a drive transmitting portion that is formed on an inner surface of the opening and that is configured to come into contact with the drive transmitted portion.
The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiments, the same components or components with the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols, and the same explanation will not be repeated. The descriptions below are mere examples and do not limit the scope of the appended claims. In the drawings, Y, M, C, and K are symbols appended to components corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, and will be omitted appropriately.
First, a configuration common to all of the embodiments will be explained below.
Four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) serving as powder containers corresponding to different colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are detachably (replaceably) attached to a toner container holder 70 serving as a container holding section provided in the upper side of the printer 100. An intermediate transfer device 85 is arranged below the toner container holder 70.
The intermediate transfer device 85 includes an intermediate transfer belt 48 serving as an intermediate transfer medium, four primary-transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K), a secondary-transfer backup roller 82, multiple tension rollers, an intermediate-transfer cleaning device, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is stretched and supported by multiple roller members and endlessly moves in the arrow direction in
In the printer 100, four image forming sections 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors are arranged in tandem so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. Four toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) serving as powder replenishing devices corresponding to the four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) of the respective colors are arranged below the toner containers 32. The toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) respectively supply (replenish) toner that is powder developer contained in the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) to developing devices of the image forming sections 46 (Y, M, C, K) for the respective colors.
As illustrated in
In the embodiment, a laser beam scanning system using a laser diode is employed as the exposing device 47. However, other configurations, such as a configuration including an LED array, may be employed as an exposing unit.
The image forming section 46Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41Y serving as an image bearer. The image forming section 46Y includes a charging roller 44Y serving as a charging unit, a developing device 50Y serving as a developing unit, a photoconductor cleaning device 42Y, and a neutralizing device, which are arranged around the photoconductor 41Y. Image forming processes (a charging process, an exposing process, a developing process, a transfer process, and a cleaning process) are performed on the photoconductor 41Y, so that a yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 41Y.
The other three image forming sections 46 (M, C, K) have almost the same configurations as the image forming section 46Y for yellow except that colors of toner to be used are different, and images corresponding to the respective toner colors are formed on the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K). Hereinafter, explanation of only the image forming section 46Y for yellow will be given, and explanation of the other three image forming sections 46 (M, C, K) will be omitted appropriately.
The photoconductor 41Y is rotated clockwise in
The four primary-transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K) of the intermediate transfer device 85 and the photoconductors 41 (Y, M, C, K) sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48, so that primary transfer nips are formed. A transfer bias with polarity opposite to the polarity of toner is applied to the primary-transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K).
The surface of the photoconductor 41Y, on which the toner image is formed through the developing process, reaches the primary transfer nip facing the primary-transfer bias roller 49Y across the intermediate transfer belt 48, and the toner image on the photoconductor 41Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the primary transfer nip (primary transfer process). At this time, a slight amount of non-transferred toner remains on the photoconductor 41Y. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y, from which the toner image has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the primary transfer nip, reaches a position facing the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y. At this position, the non-transferred toner remaining on the photoconductor 41Y is mechanically collected by a cleaning blade 42a included in the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y (cleaning process). The surface of the photoconductor 41Y finally reaches a position facing the neutralizing device, where the residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is removed. In this way, a series of image forming processes performed on the photoconductor 41Y is completed.
The above image forming processes are also performed on the other image forming sections 46 (M, C, K) in the same manner as the image forming section 46Y for yellow. Specifically, the exposing device 47 arranged below the image forming sections 46 (M, C, K) emits laser light L based on image information toward the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) of the image forming sections 46 (M, C, K). More specifically, the exposing device 47 emits the laser light L from a light source and irradiates each of the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) with the laser light L via multiple optical elements while performing scanning with the laser light L by a rotating polygon mirror. Subsequently, toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) through the developing process are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48.
At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 48 moves in the arrow direction in
The intermediate transfer belt 48, on which the color toner image is formed by superimposing the toner images of the respective colors, reaches a position facing a secondary transfer roller 89. At this position, the secondary-transfer backup roller 82 and the secondary transfer roller 89 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48, so that a secondary transfer nip is formed. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is transferred to a recording medium P, such as a sheet of paper, conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip, due to, for example, the action of a transfer bias applied to the secondary-transfer backup roller 82. At this time, non-transferred toner which has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 48. The intermediate transfer belt 48 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip reaches the position of the intermediate-transfer cleaning device, where the non-transferred toner on the surface is collected. In this way, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is completed.
Movement of the recording medium P will be explained below.
The recording medium P is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip from a feed tray 26 provided in the sheet feeder 200 arranged below the printer 100 via a feed roller 27, a registration roller pair 28, and the like. Specifically, multiple recording media P are stacked in the feed tray 26. When the feed roller 27 is rotated counterclockwise in
The recording medium P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 temporarily stops at the position of the nip between the rollers of the registration roller pair 28, the rotation of which is being stopped. The registration roller pair 28 is rotated to convey the recording medium P toward the secondary transfer nip in accordance with the timing at which the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the secondary transfer nip. Accordingly, a desired color image is formed on the recording medium P.
The recording medium P on which the color toner image is transferred at the secondary transfer nip is conveyed to the position of a fixing device 86. In the fixing device 86, the color toner image transferred on the surface of the recording medium P is fixed to the recording medium P by heat and pressure applied by a fixing belt and a pressing roller. The recording medium P that has passed through the fixing device 86 is discharged to the outside of the apparatus via a nip between rollers of a discharge roller pair 29. The recording medium P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked, as an output image, on a stack section 30. In this way, a series of image forming processes in the copier 500 is completed.
A configuration and operation of the developing device 50 in the image forming section 46 will be explained in detail below. In the following, the image forming section 46Y for yellow will be explained by way of example. However, the image forming sections 46 (M, C, K) for the other colors have the same configurations and perform the same operation.
As illustrated in
The developer G in the developing device 50 circulates between the first developer accommodating part 53Y and the second developer accommodating part 54Y while being stirred by the two developer conveying screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer accommodating part 53Y is supplied to and borne on the surface of the sleeve of the developing roller 51Y due to the magnetic field formed by the magnet roller in the developing roller 51Y while the developer G is being conveyed by one of the developer conveying screws 55Y. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow in
The developer G borne on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed in the arrow direction in
The toner density of the developer G in the developing device 50Y is adjusted to a predetermined range. Specifically, toner contained in the toner container 32Y is supplied to the second developer accommodating part 54Y via the toner replenishing device 60Y (to be described later) in accordance with the amount of toner consumed from the developer G in the developing device 50Y through the development. The toner supplied to the second developer accommodating part 54Y circulates between the first developer accommodating part 53Y and the second developer accommodating part 54Y while being mixed and stirred with the developer G by the two developer conveying screws 55Y.
The toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) will be explained below.
Toner contained in the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) attached to the toner container holder 70 of the printer 100 is appropriately supplied to the developing devices 50 (Y, M, C, K) in accordance with the consumption of toner in the developing devices 50 (Y, M, C, K) for the respective colors as illustrated in
The toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) includes the toner container holder 70, a conveying nozzle 611 (Y, M, C, K) serving as a conveying tube, a conveying screw 614 (Y, M, C, K) serving as a main body conveyor, the toner dropping passage 64 (Y, M, C, K), and a container driving section 91 (Y, M, C, K).
For convenience of explanation, in a direction in which the toner container 32Y is attached to the toner replenishing device 60Y, an opening 33a (container opening) side of a container body 33 serving as a powder storage (to be described later) is referred to as a container front end, and a side opposite to the opening 33a (a gripper 303Y side (to be described later)) is referred to as a container rear end. When the toner container 32Y is moved in the arrow Q direction in
As an embodiment of the toner container, the toner container 32Y is a toner bottle in the form of an approximate cylinder. The toner container 32Y mainly includes a container front end cover 34Y serving as a container cover that is non-rotatably held by the toner container holder 70, and includes a container body 33Y serving as the powder storage integrated with a container gear 301Y. The container body 33Y is held so as to rotate relative to the container front end cover 34Y.
As illustrated in
The container receiving section 72 is formed such that its longitudinal length becomes approximately the same as the longitudinal length of the container body 33Y. The container cover receiving section 73 is arranged on a container front end of the container receiving section 72 in the longitudinal direction (attachment/detachment direction) and the insertion hole part 71 is arranged on one end of the container receiving section 72 in the longitudinal direction. In
Therefore, along with the attachment operation of the toner container 32Y, the container front end cover 34Y first passes through the insertion hole part 71, slides on the container receiving section 72 for a while, and is finally attached to the container cover receiving section 73.
Furthermore, the container front end cover 34 includes an integrated circuit (IC) tag 700 that is an IC chip or an information storage device for recording data, such as usage data, of the toner container 32. The container front end cover 34 also includes a color-specific rib 34b that is a color identifying protrusion for preventing the toner container 32 containing toner of a certain color from being attached to the setting cover 608 of a different color. The sliding guides 361 are engaged with the sliding rails of the container receiving section 72 at the time of attachment, so that the posture of the container front end cover 34 on the toner replenishing device 60 is determined. Therefore, the positioning between the container engaged portions 339 and the replenishing device engaging members 609 and the positioning between the IC tag 700 and a connector 800 of the main body can be performed smoothly.
While the container front end cover 34Y is attached to the container cover receiving section 73, the container driving section 91Y including a driving motor 603, a driving gear, or the like as illustrated in
The conveying screw 614Y is arranged in the conveying nozzle 611Y. When the container driving section 91Y inputs rotation drive to a conveying screw gear 605Y, the conveying screw 614Y rotates and the toner supplied in the conveying nozzle 611Y is conveyed. A downstream end of the conveying nozzle 611Y in the conveying direction is connected to the toner dropping passage 64Y. The toner conveyed by the conveying screw 614Y falls along the toner dropping passage 64Y by gravity and is supplied to the developing device 50Y (the second developer accommodating part 54Y).
The toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are replaced with new ones at the end of their lifetimes (when the container becomes empty because almost all of contained toner is consumed). The gripper 303 is arranged on one end of the toner container 32 opposite the container front end cover 34 in the longitudinal direction. When the toner container 32 is to be replaced, an operator can grip the gripper 303 to pull out and detach the attached toner container 32.
The toner replenishing device 60Y controls the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y in accordance with the rotation frequency of the conveying screw 614Y. Therefore, toner that passes through the conveying nozzle 611Y is directly conveyed to the developing device 50Y via the toner dropping passage 64Y without controlling the supply amount of toner to the developing device 50Y. Even in the toner replenishing device 60Y configured to insert the conveying nozzle 611Y into the toner container 32Y as described in the embodiments, it may be possible to provide a temporary toner storage, such as a toner hopper.
Furthermore, while the toner replenishing device 60Y according to the embodiments includes the conveying screw 614Y for conveying the toner supplied in the conveying nozzle 611Y, the configuration for conveying the toner supplied in the conveying nozzle 611Y is not limited to the screw. It may be possible to apply a conveying force by using other than the screw, for example, by using a well-known powder pump for generating a negative pressure at the opening of the conveying nozzle 611Y.
The toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) according to the embodiments will be explained in detail below. As described above, the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same configurations except that colors of toner to be used are different. Therefore, in the following explanation, symbols Y, M, C, and K representing the colors of toner will be omitted.
The toner replenishing device 60 includes the conveying nozzle 611 inside which the conveying screw 614 is arranged, and also includes a nozzle shutter 612 serving as a nozzle opening/closing member. The nozzle shutter 612 closes a nozzle hole 610 formed on the conveying nozzle 611 at the time of detachment, which is before the toner container 32 is attached (in the states in
The toner container 32 will be explained below.
As described above, the toner container 32 mainly includes the container body 33 and the container front end cover 34.
As illustrated in
Scooping portions 304 are formed on the inner wall of the front end of the container body 33. The scooping portions 304 scoop up toner, which has been conveyed to the container front end by the spiral rib 302 along with the rotation of the container body 33 in the arrow A direction in
As illustrated in
The container gear 301 is formed on the container front end side relative to the scooping portion 304 of the container body 33. A gear exposing hole 34a is arranged on the container front end cover 34 so that a part of the container gear 301 (the back side of
The container opening 33a in the form of a cylinder is formed on the container front end side relative to the container gear 301 of the container body 33. A nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiver 330 is press fitted to the container opening 33a so that the nozzle receiver 330 can be fixed to the container body 33. A method to fix the nozzle receiver 330 is not limited to press fitting. Other methods including fixing with adhesive agent or fixing with screws may be applied.
The toner container 32 is configured such that the nozzle receiver 330 is fixed to the container opening 33a of the container body 33 after the container body 33 is filled with toner via the opening of the container opening 33a.
A cover hook stopper 306 serving as a cover hook regulator is formed beside the container gear 301 on the end of the container opening 33a of the container body 33. The container front end cover 34 is attached to the toner container 32 (the container body 33) in the state illustrated in
The container body 33 is molded by a biaxial stretch blow molding method. The biaxial stretch blow molding method generally includes a two-stage process including a preform molding process and a stretch blow molding process. In the preform molding process, a test-tube shaped preform is molded with resin by injection molding. By the injection molding, the container opening 33a, the cover hook stopper 306, and the container gear 301 are formed at the opening of the test-tube shape preform. In the stretch blow molding process, the preform that is cooled after the preform molding process and detached from a mold is heated and softened, and then subjected to blow molding and stretching.
In the container body 33, the container rear end side relative to the container gear 301 is molded by the stretch blow molding process. Specifically, a portion, in which the scooping portions 304 and the spiral rib 302 are formed, and the gripper 303 are molded by the stretch blow molding process.
In the container body 33, each of the portions, such as the container gear 301, the container opening 33a, and the cover hook stopper 306, provided on the container front end side relative to the container gear 301 remains in the same form as in the preform generated by the injection molding; therefore, they can be molded with high accuracy. In contrast, the portion in which the scooping portions 304 and the spiral rib 302 are formed and the gripper 303 are molded by stretching through the stretch blow molding process after the injection molding; therefore, the molding accuracy is lower than that of the preform molded portions.
The nozzle receiver 330 fixed to the container body 33 will be explained below.
For convenience of explanation, with respect to the orientation of the nozzle receiver 330 attached to the toner container 32Y, one end in the same orientation as the container front end as described above is referred to as a container front end, and the other end in the same orientation as the container rear end as described above is referred to as a container rear end.
The nozzle receiver 330 includes a container shutter supporter 340 serving as a supporting member, the container shutter 332, a container seal 333 serving as a sealing member, a container shutter spring 336 serving as a biasing member, and the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337. The container shutter supporter 340 includes a shutter rear supporting portion 335 as a shutter rear portion, shutter side supporting portions 335a as shutter side portions, an opening 335b as a shutter side opening of the shutter supporting portions, and the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337. The container shutter spring 336 includes a coil spring.
The shutter side supporting portions 335a and the openings 335b of the shutter supporting portion on the container shutter supporter 340 are arranged adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the toner container such that the two shutter side supporting portions 335a facing each other form a part of a cylindrical shape and the cylindrical shape is largely cut out at the openings 335b (two portions) of the shutter supporting portions. With this shape, it is possible to cause the container shutter 332 to move in the insertion direction of the conveying nozzle 611 in a cylindrical space S1 (
The nozzle receiver 330 fixed to the container body 33 rotates together with the container body 33 when the container body 33 rotates. At this time, the shutter side supporting portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330 rotate around the conveying nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device 60. Therefore, the shutter side supporting portions 335a and the opening 335b of the shutter supporting portion, which are being rotated, alternately pass a space just above the nozzle hole 610 formed in the upper side of the conveying nozzle 611. Consequently, even if toner is instantaneously accumulated above the nozzle hole 610, because the shutter side supporting portions 335a cross the accumulated toner and alleviate the accumulation, it becomes possible to prevent a cohesion of the accumulated toner in the unused state and prevent a toner conveying failure when the device is resumed. In contrast, when the shutter side supporting portions 335a are located on the side of the conveying nozzle 611 and the nozzle hole 610 and the opening 335b of the shutter supporting portions face each other, toner in the container body 33 passes through the opening 335b of the shutter supporting portions and is supplied to the conveying nozzle 611 as indicated by an arrow β in
The container shutter 332 includes a front cylindrical portion 332c serving as a closure, a slide area 332d, a guiding rod 332e, and shutter hooks 332a. The front cylindrical portion 332c is a container front end portion to be fitted to a cylindrical opening (the receiving opening 331) of the container seal 333. The slide area 332d is a cylindrical portion, which is formed on the container rear end side relative to the front cylindrical portion 332c. The slide area 332d has an outer diameter slightly greater than the front cylindrical portion 332c, and slides on the inner surfaces of the shutter side supporting portions 335a as a pair.
The guiding rod 332e is a rod member serving as an elongated member, which stands from the inner side of the front cylindrical portion 332c toward the container rear end, and is for preventing the container shutter spring 336 from being buckled when the guiding rod 332e is inserted to the inside of the coil of the container shutter spring 336.
A flat guiding portion 332g serving as a cohesion preventing mechanism includes a pair of flat surfaces that are formed on both sides across the central axis of the guiding rod 332e from the middle of the cylindrical guiding rod 332e. The container rear end side of the flat guiding portion 332g is bifurcated into a pair of cantilevers 332f.
The shutter hooks 332a are a pair of hooks, which are provided on the end opposite the base where the guiding rod 332e stands and which are configured to prevent the container shutter 332 from coming out of the container shutter supporter 340.
As illustrated in
Due to the engaged state between the shutter hooks 332a and the shutter rear supporting portion 335 and the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336, the positioning is performed. Specifically, the positions of the front cylindrical portion 332c and the container seal 333, both of which implement a toner leakage preventing function of the container shutter 332, are determined relative to the container shutter supporter 340 in the axial direction. Therefore, it is possible to determine the positions such that the front cylindrical portion 332c and the container seal 333 are fitted to each other, enabling to prevent toner leakage.
The nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 is in the form of a cylinder whose outer diameter and inner diameter are reduced in a stepped manner toward the container rear end. The diameters are gradually reduced from the container front end to the container rear end. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Functions of the seal jam preventing space 337b will be described below. When the container shutter 332 moves to the container rear end from the state where the receiving opening 331 is closed, the inner surface of the container seal 333 slides against the front cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332. Therefore, the inner surface of the container seal 333 is pulled by the container shutter 332 and elastically deformed so as to move toward the container rear end.
At this time, if the seal jam preventing space 337b is not provided and the vertical surface (the attachment surface of the container seal 333) continued from the third inner surface is connected to the fifth inner surface GG in a direction perpendicular to each other, the following situation may occur. Specifically, the elastically-deformed portion of the container seal 333 may be caught between the inner surface of the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 sliding against the container shutter 332 and the outer surface of the container shutter 332, resulting in causing a jam. If the container seal 333 is jammed in the portion where the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 and the container shutter 332 slide against each other, that is, between the front cylindrical portion 332c and the inner surface GG, the container shutter 332 is firmly fixed to the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337, so that the receiving opening 331 may not be opened and closed.
In contrast, the seal jam preventing space 337b is formed on the inner area of the nozzle receiver 330 of the embodiments. The inner diameter of the seal jam preventing space 337b (the inner diameter of each of the inner surface EE and the continued tapered surface) is smaller than the outer diameter of the container seal 333. Therefore, the entire container seal 333 can hardly enter the seal jam preventing space 337b. Furthermore, an area of the container seal 333 to be elastically deformed by being pulled by the container shutter 332 is limited, and the container seal 333 can be restored by its own elasticity before the container seal 333 is brought to and jammed at the inner surface GG. With this action, it is possible to prevent a situation where the receiving opening 331 cannot be opened and closed because of the fixed state between the container shutter 332 and the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The back side of a biased surface 612f of the nozzle shutter flange 612a biased by the nozzle shutter spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a, so that the position of the nozzle shutter 612 relative to the toner container 32 in the rotation axis direction is determined. Consequently, a positional relationship of the front end surface of the container seal 333, the front end surface of a front end opening 305 (an inner space of the cylindrical nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 arranged in the container opening 33a as will be described later), and the nozzle shutter 612 in the rotation axis direction is determined.
The operation of the container shutter 332 and the conveying nozzle 611 will be explained below with reference to
Subsequently, if the container body 33 is rotated, toner scooped up above the conveying nozzle 611 by the scooping portion 304 falls in the conveying nozzle 611 via the nozzle hole 610 and is introduced. The toner introduced into the conveying nozzle 611 is conveyed inside the conveying nozzle 611 toward the toner dropping passage 64 along with the rotation of the conveying screw 614, and falls in the developing device 50 through the toner dropping passage 64, so that the toner is supplied.
When the toner container 32 is set at the setting position as illustrated in
Incidentally, if it is assumed that the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle are flat surfaces, the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle slide against each other while being in surface-to-surface contact with each other, so that a load is increased. Furthermore, it is difficult to achieve ideally perfect surface-to-surface sliding due to a mounting error or variation in components, and a slight gap may be generated. Therefore, in some cases, toner may enter the gap and may be rubbed along with the surface-to-surface sliding.
Moreover, a case will be described below that the toner flying in the toner container adheres to the gap between the container shutter 332 and the container shutter supporter 340. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the front cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332 is pressed against the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle by the container shutter spring 336, so that a braking force is applied to the container shutter. Therefore, the container shutter 332 may not rotate with the container shutter supporter 340 that is fixed to the container body 33 and that rotates together with the spiral rib 302. In this case, toner in the gap between the container shutter 332 and the container shutter supporter 340 may be rubbed by the container shutter 332.
Accordingly, the toner, which is rubbed and to which a load is applied, may form a cohesion greater than the diameter of toner to which a load is not applied. If the cohesion is conveyed to the developing device 50 via the toner replenishing device 60, an unintended abnormal image, such as a black spot, may be formed. A phenomenon in which the cohesion is generated is likely to occur when low-melting-point toner, which enables to form images at a particularly low fixing temperature among various types of toner, is used.
Therefore, in the first embodiment, a cohesion preventing mechanism is provided that prevents toner cohesion that may occur with rotation of the container body 33, which will be explained below in first to sixth examples.
A cohesion preventing mechanism according to a first example will be explained. The cohesion preventing mechanism according to the first example is conceived to allow the container shutter 332 to rotate together with the container shutter supporter 340 even when the front cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332 is pressed against the conveying nozzle 611 by the container shutter spring 336 in the longitudinal direction of the front cylindrical portion 332c and a braking force is generated due to the pressing. With this preventive action, a sliding load applied to toner between the container shutter 332 and the container shutter supporter 340 can be reduced. The rotation (relative rotation) together with another rotation is assumed as rotation of the container shutter 332 about an axis of the guiding rod 332e. The rotation of the container shutter 332 together with the container shutter supporter 340 means that both of them rotate together, in other words, the container shutter 332 does not rotate relative to the container shutter supporter 340. Furthermore, the gap between the container shutter 332 and the container shutter supporter 340 is assumed as a gap between the outer surface of the slide area 332d and the inner surface of the opening 335b of the shutter supporting portion and a gap between the flat guiding portion 332g and a rear end opening 335d serving as a through hole, a cohesion preventing mechanism, or an opening.
The sliding load applied to the toner by rotation about the axis is far greater than the sliding load applied by opening/closing operation of the container shutter 332 in the axial direction. This is because the opening/closing operation is performed only at the time of attachment and detachment of the toner container 32, whereas the rotation is performed at every replenishing operation. The present embodiment is conceived to reduce the sliding load on the toner due to the rotation.
The guiding rod 332e includes a cylindrical portion 332i, the flat guiding portion 332g, the cantilevers 332f, and the shutter hooks 332a. As illustrated in
To mount the container shutter 332 on the container shutter supporter 340, the guiding rod 332e is inserted in the container shutter spring 336 and the pair of the cantilevers 332f of the guiding rod 332e are bent toward the center of the axis of the guiding rod 332e to allow the shutter hooks 332a to pass through the rear end opening 335d. Therefore, the guiding rod 332e is mounted on the nozzle receiver 330 as illustrated in
If the toner container 32 is set at the setting position, the flat guiding portion 332g passes through the rear end opening 335d, and, as illustrated in
Therefore, even when the end surface 332h of the container shutter is pressed against the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle by the container shutter spring 336, because of the surface contact between the flat portions of the flat guiding portion 332g and the sides of the rear end opening 335d, relative rotation between the flat guiding portion 332g and the rear end opening 335 is restricted in the rotation direction about its longitudinal axis (which is the central axis of the guiding rod 332e and the central axis of the container body). Therefore, a rotational force is transmitted from the container shutter supporter 340 being rotated to the guiding rod 332e of the container shutter 332. The rotational force is greater than the breaking force as described above, so that the container shutter 332 can rotate with the rotation of the container shutter supporter 340. In other words, the container shutter 332 rotates together with the container shutter supporter 340 (at this time, relative rotation between them is restricted). Specifically, the flat guiding portion 332g and the rear end opening 335d serve as a drive transmitting mechanism that transmits a rotational force from the container shutter supporter 340 to the container shutter 332. At the same time, the flat guiding portion 332g and the rear end opening 335d function as the cohesion preventing mechanism according to the first example. The cohesion preventing mechanism can prevent toner between the container shutter 332 and the container shutter supporter 340 from being rubbed in the rotation direction about the axis of the guiding rod 332e, so that toner cohesion between the container shutter 332 and the container shutter supporter 340 due to the rotation of the container body 33 can be prevented.
Incidentally, the cohesion preventing mechanism according to the first example is not limited to the flat guiding portion 332g, and may be the cantilevers 332f In this case, it is preferable to determine the length and the position so that the cantilevers 332f can be located at the position of the rear end opening 335d when the toner container 32 is set at the setting position.
Further, the shape of the rear end opening 335d is not limited to the example illustrated in
Furthermore, the cohesion preventing mechanism according to the first example is not limited to the above example in which the drive is transmitted by the surface contact between the flat surfaces.
First, problems to be solved by a cohesion preventing mechanism according to a second example will be explained below. When the container shutter 332 rotates together with the toner container 32 (the container body 33) in an integrated manner, the end surface 332h of the container shutter rotates relative to the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle. The front cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332 is pressed against the conveying nozzle 611 by the container shutter spring 336 in the longitudinal direction. If the relative rotation is performed in the state as described above, a sliding load on the end surface 332h of the container shutter with respect to the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle extremely increases, so that toner cohesion may occur.
The second example is conceived to provide a cohesion preventing mechanism that prevents toner cohesion due to rotation of the container shutter 332 serving as the opening/closing member, and in particular, to provide a second cohesion preventing mechanism that prevents occurrence of toner cohesion in an area different from the first example. The cohesion preventing mechanism according to the second example reduces a sliding load on toner in a contact area of the front cylindrical portion 332c facing the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle.
As illustrated in
As a material of the protrusion 342, if the protrusion 342 is integrally molded with the container shutter 332, the same material as the container shutter 332, for example, polystyrene resin, may be used. The container shutter 332 is a component attached to the toner container 32, and therefore is replaced together with the toner container 32. Therefore, assuming that the replacement is to be performed, as the material of the protrusion 342 that rotates when in contact with the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle, it is preferable to employ a material softer than the material of the conveying nozzle 611 (the front end 611a) that is provided in the printer 100 and that is basically not replaced, in terms of durability.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
A gap between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the surface of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle caused by the protrusion 342 will be explained below. As illustrated in
The inventors have examined a relationship between the height X of the protrusion and occurrence of a black spot in an image, that is, a relationship between the size of a sliding area in the contact area and occurrence of a black spot in an image, and have found a tendency as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
Incidentally, the cohesion preventing mechanism is not limited to the example in which the protrusion 342 and the container shutter 332 are integrated as illustrated in
Even in this configuration, the sliding load on the toner that has been entered into the gap between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the surface of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle can be reduced. Therefore, a cohesion can hardly be generated. As described above, even when the toner is entered into the gap between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the surface of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle, the sliding load can be reduced, so that a load on the toner can be reduced. Therefore, it becomes possible to minimize the load on the toner, enabling to prevent generation of a cohesion and an abnormal image.
Furthermore, while the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle is formed as a flat end surface, the front end 611a may be formed such that, for example, only a part 611b of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle facing the protrusion 342 protrudes toward the protrusion 342 side as illustrated in
A cohesion preventing mechanism according to a third example will be explained below.
In the second example, the cohesion preventing mechanism is arranged between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle, which is particularly effective to prevent generation of a toner cohesion. However, when the toner container 32 is detached from the toner replenishing device 60, toner adhering to the gap between the surfaces may fall down inside the image forming apparatus or fall down to the floor, resulting in dirty stain.
To cope with this, in the third example, a seal 350 is arranged on the end surface 332h of the container shutter in a non-contact area R with respect to the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent toner from remaining between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the surface of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle.
The seal 350 is made of an elastic material, such as expanded polyurethane. As illustrated in
If the seal 350 is arranged as described above, the front surface 350a of the seal 350 comes in contact with the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle as illustrated in
Incidentally, as illustrated in
By providing the seal 350, it becomes possible to prevent toner from being entered into the gap between the surfaces, so that it becomes possible to more reliably prevent generation of a cohesion due to the rotation of the container body 33.
Furthermore, as illustrated in
A cohesion preventing mechanism according to a fourth example will be explained below. The cohesion preventing mechanism according to the fourth example includes the protrusions 342 formed in the annular shape on the end surface 332h of the container shutter, an annular seal 3501b arranged on the outer side of the protrusion 342, and a cylindrical seal 3502b arranged on the inner side of the protrusions 342. As illustrated in
Even in this configuration, similarly to the third example, it is possible to prevent toner from being entered into the gap between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the surface of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle and to reduce the sliding load applied to the toner due to the rotation of the container body 33, so that toner cohesion can be prevented. Furthermore, when the toner container 32 is detached from the toner replenishing device 60, it is possible to prevent the toner from falling down inside the image forming apparatus or falling down to the floor, enabling to prevent dirty stain.
Moreover, because the protrusions are formed in the annular shape, it becomes possible to distribute the pressing force of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle, so that abrasion resistance of the protrusions can be improved compared to the third example.
Incidentally, while the configuration including both of the seal 3501b and the seal 3502b is explained in the present example, it may be possible to provide only one of them, or it may be possible not to provide the seal similarly to the second example.
A cohesion preventing mechanism according to a fifth example will be explained below. The container shutter 332 is a resin component that is integrally formed by injection molding. In this case, resin is injected into a mold via a nozzle, a sprue, and a runner. At this time, a gate mark (concaves 332v) of a gate may remain on the container shutter 332. In the container shutter 332 according to the present example, resin is homogeneously injected into the mold; therefore, as illustrated in
When the gate mark is formed as the concaves 332v, and if the end surface 332h of the container shutter is exposed as in the second example, toner is likely to be accumulated in the concaves 332v. Accordingly, when the toner container 32 is detached from the toner replenishing device 60, the amount of toner adhering to the gap between the surfaces is greater than the second example, so that the toner may fall down inside the toner replenishing device 60 and may result in dirty stain.
Therefore, as illustrated in
Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner from being entered into the gap between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the surface of the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle.
Incidentally, it may be possible to perform post processing to fill in the concaves 332v instead of using the seal 350. For example, it may be possible to inject resin in the concaves 332v and solidify the resin. Alternatively, it may be possible to fit corresponding parts into the concaves 332v or to attach a tape to close the concaves 332v. With this configuration, even when the seal 350 is not provided, it becomes possible to prevent accumulation of toner in the concaves 332v, enabling to achieve the same advantageous effects as described in the second example.
While component costs increase compared to the toner container 32 illustrated in
The nozzle receiver 1330 illustrated in
Furthermore, the nozzle receiver 1330 illustrated in
Moreover, in the configuration illustrated in
As described above, it is possible to integrate the structures, such as a scooping inner wall surface, a bridging portion, and openings 1335b as shutter side openings of the shutter supporting portion, for introducing toner to the nozzle hole 610.
Detailed configurations for mounting the nozzle receiver 1330 and the container shutter 1332 will be explained below.
As illustrated in
In contrast, a shutter rear supporting portion 1335 serving as a shutter rear portion illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
The toner container 1032 including the scooping ribs 304g will be described in detail below.
As illustrated in
A gear exposing hole 1034a (a hole similar to the gear exposing hole 34a) is arranged on the container front end cover 1034 in order to expose the container gear 1301 fixed to the nozzle receiver 1330. The approximately cylindrical container body 1033 holds the nozzle receiver 1330 so that the nozzle receiver 1330 can rotate. The container front end cover 1034 and the rear cover 1035 are fixed to the container body 1033 (by a well-known method, such as thermal welding or adhesive agent). The rear cover 1035 includes a rear side bearing 1035a that supports one end of the conveying blade holder 1330b, and includes a gripper 1303 that a user can grip when he/she attaches and detaches the toner container 1032 to and from the copier 500.
A method to assemble the container front end cover 1034, the rear cover 1035, and the nozzle receiver 1330 on the container body 1033 will be explained below.
The nozzle receiver 1330 is first inserted in the container body 1033 from the container rear end side, and positioning is performed such that the nozzle receiver 1330 is rotatably supported by a front side bearing 1036 arranged on the front end of the container body 1033. Subsequently, positioning is performed such that one end of the conveying blade holder 1330b of the nozzle receiver 1330 is rotatably supported by the rear side bearing 1035a arranged on the rear cover 1035, and the rear cover 1035 is fixed to the container body 1033. Thereafter, the container gear 1301 is fixed to the nozzle receiver 1330 from the container front end side. After the container gear 1301 is fixed, the container front end cover 1034 is fixed to the container body 1033 so as to cover the container gear 1301 from the container front end side.
Incidentally, the fixation between the container body 1033 and the container front end cover 1034, the fixation between the container body 1033 and the rear cover 1035, and the fixation between the nozzle receiver 1330 and the container gear 1301 are performed by appropriately using a well-known method (for example, thermal welding, adhesive agent, or the like).
A configuration for conveying toner from the toner container 1032 to the nozzle hole 610 will be explained below.
The scooping ribs 304g protrude so as to come closer to the inner surface of the container body 1033 such that rib surfaces are continued from downstream ends 1335c, which are on the downstream side in the rotation direction, of shutter side supporting portions 1335a serving as shutter side portions. The rib surfaces are bent once in the middle portions so as to resemble curved surfaces. However, the configuration is not limited to this example depending on the compatibility with toner. For example simple flat ribs without bend may be used. With this configuration, it becomes not necessary to form a bulged portion in the container body 1033. Furthermore, because the scooping ribs 304g stand from the opening 1335b of the shutter supporting portion in an integrated manner, it becomes possible to obtain the same bridging function and advantageous effects as those obtained by fitting the shutter side supporting portion 335a and the convex 304h. Specifically, when the nozzle receiver 1330 rotates while the toner container 1032 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the conveying blades are rotated, so that toner contained in the toner container 1032 is conveyed from the rear end side to the front end side where the nozzle receiver 1330 is arranged. Subsequently, the scooping ribs 304g receive the toner conveyed by the conveying blades 1302, scoop up the toner from bottom to top along with the rotation, and introduce the toner into the nozzle hole 610 by using the rib surfaces as slides.
While the first example and the second to sixth examples are explained separately, the present invention is not limited to these examples and may be embodied in various forms. For example, a container shutter may be configured by combining the first example and any of the second to fifth examples, a nozzle insertion member may include this container shutter, a toner container may include this nozzle insertion member, and an image forming apparatus may include this toner container.
A second embodiment will be explained below with reference to drawings. The configurations common to all of the embodiments and the same components or components with the same functions as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and symbols, and the same explanation will not be repeated. The descriptions below are mere examples and do not limit the scope of the appended claims. In the drawings, Y, M, C, and K are symbols appended to components corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, and will be omitted appropriately.
First, problems to be solved will be explained below.
The toner container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-133349 includes a shutter to move to the inside and outside of the toner container while being in contact with a nozzle that moves inward or outward from an image forming apparatus side, and includes a nozzle receiver that holds the shutter. When the toner container is set in the image forming apparatus, the nozzle enters the toner container and then the toner container is rotated, so that toner is supplied inside the toner container. Furthermore, when the toner container is left alone (for example, when the toner container is detached from the image forming apparatus or the toner container is left before being attached to the image forming apparatus), the shutter is located at a position at which an opening of the toner container is closed, and a seal serving as a sealing member is arranged on the circumference of the shutter.
It is desirable that the seal can increase the adhesion with respect to the shutter and prevent toner leakage when the toner container is left alone, and the seal can reduce heat generation due to sliding with the nozzle when the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus.
An object of the second embodiment is to provide a sealing member that prevents toner leakage and reduces heat generation due to sliding with the nozzle, a powder container including the sealing member, and an image forming apparatus including the powder container.
The nozzle receiver 330 fixed to the toner container 32 according to the second embodiment will be explained below.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, the container seal 333 serving as the sealing member according to the second embodiment will be explained in detail below.
As illustrated in
The container seal 333 includes, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the following, a moving direction in which the container shutter 332 moves from the closing position at which the through hole 333h of the container seal 333 is sealed as illustrated in
As illustrated in
More specifically, W1=13.7 mm, W2=15 mm, and W3=15.9 mm. Furthermore, a symbol W4 in
The through hole 333h serves as at least a part of the receiving opening 331. The first layer 3331 of the container seal 333 is attached to the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 (the nozzle receiver 330) such that the first layer 3331 is oriented on the inner side of the toner container 32 (on the downstream side in the first moving direction Q1) and the second layer 3332 is oriented on the outer side of the toner container 32. Specifically, the container seal 333 includes the first layer 3331 on the downstream side in the first moving direction Q1 and includes the second layer 3332 on the upstream side in the same direction. The first layer 3331 includes an inner surface 3331a and the second layer 3332 includes an inner surface 3332a. The inner surfaces 3331a and 3332a form the inner surface 333a of the container seal 333 when the first layer 3331 and the second layer 3332 are bonded and integrated together.
As a layered structure of the container seal 333, if the first layer 3331 with a higher foam density is formed on the downstream side rather than on the upstream side in the first moving direction Q1, it becomes possible to prevent toner leakage and toner scattering in the more inner side where the toner is stored, as compared to a structure in which the second layer 3332 with a lower foam density is formed on the downstream side in the first moving direction Q1. Specifically, when the toner container 32 is not attached to the image forming apparatus, the inner surface 3331a of the first layer 3331 is fit to the outer surface 332r of the container shutter 332, so that toner does not move outward from the first layer 3331 (in the direction of arrow Q in the drawings). Therefore, for example, even if the toner container 32 unexpectedly falls down while the toner container 32 is being shipped, and the inertial force due to the drop impact acts on the container shutter 332 to cause the container shutter 332 to be deviated from the container seal 333, toner scattering can be prevented.
More specifically, the container seal 333 can improve the adhesion with respect to the outer surface 332r at a position on the most inner side of the inner surface 3331a with respect to the toner container, so that the effect to prevent the toner scattering can further be improved.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the toner container 32 is further moved in the setting direction Q with respect to the image forming apparatus, the nozzle shutter flange 612a as an abutted part comes in contact with the front ends of the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a (the upstream side in the first moving direction Q1). A plurality of the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a are arranged on the inner surface of the front end opening 305 that is a cylindrical inner space of the nozzle receiver 330.
When the toner container 32 is further moved in the setting direction Q with respect to the image forming apparatus, the container shutter 332 further moves inward (to the downstream side in the first moving direction Q1) with respect to the toner container 32 because the end surface 332h is in contact with the front end 611a of the conveying nozzle 611 via the seal 350. Furthermore, the nozzle shutter flange 612a of the nozzle shutter 612 comes in contact with the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a of the nozzle receiver 330. Therefore, the nozzle shutter 612 moves toward a base end (in the setting direction Q) of the conveying nozzle 611 along with the movement of the toner container 32. With the movement of the nozzle shutter 612, the nozzle hole 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 is opened. Subsequently, the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 reaches the container setting section 615 of the image forming apparatus and is rotatably held, so that the setting of the toner container 32 on the image forming apparatus is completed (
In contrast, when the toner container 32 is detached from the setting section of the image forming apparatus, operation reverse to the attachment operation is performed. That is, the state in
Specifically, in the change from the state in
Subsequently, in the change from the state in
Subsequently, in the change from the state in
Incidentally, if the toner container 32 is rotated in the set state in which the setting of the toner container 32 is completed, the container seal 333 rotates relative to the nozzle shutter 612, so that the inner surface 333a of the container seal 333 and the outer surface 612r of the nozzle shutter 612 come in sliding-contact with each other. Namely, the inner surface 333a of the container seal 333 serves as a sliding-contact surface. It is preferable that, even when the toner container 32 is rotating, the inner surface 333a of the container seal 333 and the outer surface 612r of the nozzle shutter 612 are fitted to each other in order to prevent toner leakage. However, in some cases, heat is generated between the inner surface 333a of the container seal 333 and the outer surface 612r of the nozzle shutter 612 due to the sliding.
To cope with this, the container seal 333 was configured such that the inner surface 333a serving as the sliding-contact surface had a lower frictional force on the upstream side in the first moving direction Q1 than that of the downstream side. In this configuration, it was possible to cope with heat due to the sliding. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the container seal 333 is formed of two layers as described above, that is, the first layer 3331 and the second layer 3332, made of materials with different friction coefficients such that the inner surface 3331a of the first layer and the inner surface 3332a of the second layer come in sliding-contact with the outer surface 612r of the nozzle shutter 612. Incidentally, the frictional force can be specified based on a measurement result obtained by measuring, as illustrated in
Meanwhile, the measurement result may be obtained by measurement as illustrated in
Subsequently, a tension gauge is connected to the weight, the first layer 3331 or the second layer 3332 is pulled on the flat surface via the tension gauge, and the tension (kilogram-weights (kgw)) at the time the first layer 3331 or the second layer 3332 bonded to the weight starts moving (sliding) on the flat surface is measured.
The first layer 3331 is preferably made with microcellular polymer, such as PORON (registered trademark) (manufactured by INOAC Corporation), which is high-density urethane foam with extremely fine and homogeneous cell structure and excellent slidability. The first layer 3331 forms a slide layer. PORON has a low expansion ratio (i.e., high foam density) and each cell is independent of the other cells, so that sealing performance with respect to toner is ensured but heat is less likely to be released. Incidentally, the expansion ratio indicates the volume of a certain amount of a cellular plastic compared to the volume of the same amount of a solid plastic (which is obtained by dividing the apparent density of the cellular plastic by the density of the unexpanded plastic).
The second layer 3332 is preferably made with expanded polyurethane (a so-called sponge material including, for example, polyester polyurethane foam), such as Moltpren (registered trademark) (manufactured by INOAC Corporation), which has a lower friction coefficient than that of the first layer. The second layer 3332 forms a low frictional layer. Moltpren has a high expansion ratio (i.e., low foam density) and each cell is connected to the other cells, so that heat is easily released. Furthermore, Moltpren has an advantage with respect to heat because of a small contact area with the nozzle shutter 612. The first layer 3331 and the second layer 3332 can be attached to each other by appropriately using a well-known method. For example, in the embodiment, the first and the second layers are attached with adhesive agent.
Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce heat generation at the sliding-contact surface compared to a single-layer seal structure, in which the entire width (entire layer thickness) of the container seal 333 is made with, for example, only the first layer 3331 (PORON layer). Specifically, it becomes possible to reduce heat generation at the inner surface 333a serving as a sliding-contact surface by reducing the width of the first layer 3331 (layer thickness) within the entire width (entire layer thickness) of the container seal 333 so that a sliding area between the inner surface 3331a of the first layer 3331 and the outer surface 612r of the nozzle shutter 612 can be reduced.
Incidentally, to further reduce heat generation at the inner surface 333a (the sliding-contact surface) of the container seal 333 while the toner container 32 is rotating, it is effective to further reduce the width of the first layer 3331 (thickness) and the width of the second layer 3332 (thickness) of the container seal 333. However, if the width of the first layer 3331 (thickness) is reduced too much, it may become difficult to adequately exert the effect to prevent toner scattering by the fitting between the outer surface 332r of the container shutter 332 and the inner surface 3331a of the first layer 3331 during shipment.
Therefore, further studies and examinations were performed regarding the width of the first layer 3331 (thickness), the width of the second layer 3332 (thickness), a deformation amount of the container seal 333, and a seal form of the container seal 333. The examination result is illustrated in
Seal Form in
In
“Entire surface contact” captioned below the cross-sections indicates a state in which the inner surface GG of the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 and the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332 are in surface contact with each other in the entire area in the circumferential direction. Incidentally, an inner circle adjacent to the outer circle representing the inner surface GG represents an outer circumference of the slide area 332d. In actuality, the inner surface GG and the slide area 332d almost overlap each other in a slidable manner; however, a space in the radial direction is illustrated for convenience of explanation. Incidentally, the slide area 332d in the case of the entire surface contact is the same as illustrated in
“Point contact” captioned below the cross-sections indicates a state in which the shape of the cross-section and the outer diameter of the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332 differ from those of the entire surface contact, and four ribs arranged on the outer circumference of the slide area 332d as illustrated in the drawing and the inner surface GG of the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 come in point-contact with each other at four points (marked with “●” in the table). Each of the ribs has an approximately semicircular cross-section and is arranged in a direction normal to the sheet of the drawing. Incidentally, it is assumed that the outer circumference of the slide area 332d is smaller than the outer shape of the slide area 332d of the entire surface contact.
“Partial surface contact” captioned below the cross-sections indicates a state in which the shape of the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332 differs from those of the entire surface contact and the point contact, and outer surfaces of two fan-shaped ribs arranged on the outer circumference of the slide area 332d as illustrated in the drawing and the inner surface GG of the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 come in surface-contact with each other. Specifically, the outer surfaces of the two fan-shaped ribs are formed along the inner surface GG. Incidentally, it is assumed that the outer shape of a portion where the outer surfaces are not formed in the slide area 332d is smaller than the outer shape of the slide area 332d of the entire surface contact.
As described above, a relationship of the area of contact between the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332 and the inner surface GG of the nozzle receiver fixing portion 337 becomes such that “entire surface contact”>“partial surface contact”>“point contact”.
Inner Diameter of the Seal in
An inner diameter of the seal illustrated in
Front Diameter of the Shutter in
A front diameter of the shutter is a diameter (outer diameter) W3 of the outer surface 332r of the front cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332 illustrated in
Deformation Amount of the Seal in
The deformation amount of the seal illustrated in
PORON Thickness and Moltpren Thickness in
A PORON thickness illustrated in
Toner Leakage in
In
Sliding Heat in
As evaluations of sliding heat, a thermocouple was disposed inside the conveying nozzle 611, rotation operation for rotating the toner container 32 for 0.9 second and then stopping the toner container 32 for 0.1 second was repeated for 100 seconds, and a temperature at that time was checked. If the temperature was lower than a temperature at which the toner is solidified or melted, the state was evaluated as ∘. At the evaluation, the conveying screw in the conveying nozzle 611 was not rotated and toner was not contained in the toner container 32.
Examination Result As illustrated in
An explanation will be given below with reference to
As illustrated in
While not shown in the table in
After the attached state is obtained, when the toner container 32 is detached, the container shutter 332 needs to be closed by itself with the aid of the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336.
If only the toner container 32 in the separated state is simply assumed, it may be sufficient to increase the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336. However, if the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 is increased, a retracting force increases due to a reaction force generated in the first moving direction Q1 when the container shutter spring 336 is compressed during the attachment operation for moving the toner container 32 in the setting direction Q. Accordingly, the holding force needed in the image forming apparatus side to hold the toner container 32 at the setting position (attached state) in the image forming apparatus also increases. Therefore, it is not preferable to increase the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 in consideration of container attachablity and container holdability.
In view of the above, it is desirable to set the upper limit of the deformation amount of the seal in the radial direction of the container seal 333 to be smaller than 3 mm.
In the present embodiment, the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336 was 5±0.5 Newton (N) and the biasing force of the nozzle shutter spring 613 was 3.8±0.4 N.
Next,
In
Incidentally, if it is assumed that the deformation amount of the seal and the toner leakage have a proportional relationship, it is expected that a value *3 that satisfies the toner leakage state denoted by Δ is present between the deformation amount of 2.2 mm corresponding to the state denoted by ⊚ indicating least toner leakage and the deformation amount of 3.0 mm corresponding to the state denoted by x indicating an unacceptable amount. Therefore, it may be possible to set the maximum acceptable value of the deformation amount of the seal to the value *3.
Furthermore, similarly to the above, it is expected that a value *2 that satisfies the toner leakage state denoted by Δ is present between the deformation amount of 2.2 mm corresponding to the state denoted by ∘ indicating less toner leakage and the deformation amount of 3.0 mm corresponding to the state denoted by x indicating an unacceptable amount. Therefore, it may be possible to set the maximum acceptable value of the deformation amount of the seal to the value *2.
Moreover, in
Furthermore, if the layer thickness of the first layer 3331 is too thick, the sliding resistance increases, and if the layer thickness is too thin, it becomes difficult to ensure the sealing performance. Therefore, an appropriate deformation amount of the seal of the first layer 3331 is 1 to 4 mm. As illustrated in
Next,
It can be seen from
Next,
In
In view of the above circumstances, a preferable seal form of the container seal 333 is the entire surface contact because backlash or slip can hardly occur, and a preferable deformation amount is in a range from 1.6 mm or more to less than 3 mm. A more preferable deformation amount is in a range from 1.9 mm or more to less than 2.2 mm. As for the thicknesses of the first layer 3331 and the second layer 3332, the relationship of 3 mm:4 mm is preferable to 2 mm:5 mm.
As described above, as the layered structure of the container seal 333 of the present embodiment, the inner side of the toner container on the downstream side in the first moving direction Q1 is formed of the first layer 3331 with a higher foam density and excellent slidability, and the outer side of the toner container on the upstream side in the first moving direction Q1 is formed of the second layer 3332 with a lower foam density and a lower friction coefficient than those of the first layer 3331. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent toner scattering even when the toner container 32 unexpectedly falls down while the toner container 32 is being shipped and the inertial force due to the drop impact acts on the container shutter 332 to cause the container shutter 332 to be deviated from the container seal 333, and it becomes also possible to reduce heat generation at the inner surface 333a serving as a sliding-contact surface when the toner container 32 is rotating.
An increase in the temperature of the container seal 333 over time will be explained below with reference to
To evaluate the sliding heat, three types (T-1, T-2, and T-3) of the container seals 333 were formed and each of them is mounted on the nozzle receiver 330 of the toner container 32 to obtain three types of the toner containers 32.
It can be seen from
Subsequently, a toner container, to which the container seal of T-3 whose temperature has most increased was attached and in which toner is filled, was mounted on a real device, and an increase in the temperature due to actual toner discharge operation was evaluated. Specifically, a thermocouple was disposed on the outer surface of the conveying nozzle 611, and an increase in the temperature due to continuous printing of 100 pages per job with the image area ratio of 20% under the environment of temperature of 32° C. and humidity of 54% was evaluated. In the evaluation, when the temperature detected by the thermocouple became stable, the toner container was replaced with an empty bottle and end stop control was performed. Then, the front cover of the image forming apparatus was opened and closed during 100 seconds until toner-end recovery control failed, and then the toner container 32 was replaced with new one and recovery control was performed. Subsequently, the continuous printing of 100 pages per job with the image area ratio of 20% was resumed, the power is turned off for about 300 seconds to cause overshoot, and the continuous printing of 100 pages per job with the image area ratio of 20% was resumed again.
As illustrated in
A modification of the structure for fitting the outer surface 332r of the container shutter 332 illustrated in
As illustrated in
As described above, the container seal 333 can achieve the effect to prevent toner scattering by the fitting between the inner surface portion 3331a1 and the outer surface 332r of the container shutter similarly to the embodiments as described above, and further achieve the effect to prevent toner scattering by the fitting between the inner surface portion 3331a2 and the inclined surface 332t of the container shutter 332, so that toner scattering can further be prevented.
Furthermore, because the inner surface portion 3331a2 is the most downstream portion of the first layer 3331 in the first moving direction Q1, even when toner contained in the toner container 32 moves to the position of the inner surface portion 3331a2, it is possible to prevent the toner from moving outward. Moreover, the inner surface portion 3331a2 is deformed into an inclined surface along the inclined surface 332t of the container shutter 332, so that the area of contact with the container shutter 332 can be increased compared to a configuration in which the inner surface portion 3331a2 is formed as a surface along the first moving direction similarly to the inner surface portion 3331a1. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent the toner contained in the toner container 32 from moving outward from the position of the inner surface portion 3331a2, enabling to further improve the effect to prevent toner scattering.
According to the examination result, it is preferable to set the width (thickness) of the first layer 3331 serving as an inner layer in the first moving direction Q1 to 1 mm to 4 mm, and set the width (thickness) of the second layer 3332 serving as an outer layer in the first moving direction Q1 to 1 mm to 2.6 mm to achieve favorable effects. Furthermore, it is preferable to satisfy L3/L4=1 when the deformation amount of the first layer 3331 of the container shutter 332 in the radial direction is denoted by L3 and the deformation amount of the second layer 3332 is denoted by L4. Specifically, as the deformation amount (in other words, a pressed amount), favorable effects can be achieved when L3 is set to 1.6 mm to 2.2 mm and L4 is set to 1.9 mm to 2.2 mm.
In the embodiments, an example is explained that the vertical surface of the container seal 333 on the container front end side slightly protrudes relative to the front ends of the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a; however, it is not limited thereto. For example, the vertical surface of the container seal 333 on the container front end side may not protrude relative to the front ends of the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a. In this case, the nozzle shutter flange 612a does not press and deform the container seal 333, so that the adhesion between the outer circumference of the conveying nozzle 611 and the inner surface 333a of the container seal 333 is reduced. To cope with this, if the inner diameter W1 of the through hole 333h of the container seal 333 is reduced and the deformation amount of the container seal 333 is increased, it becomes possible to compensate for the lack of press and deformation of the container seal 333 by the nozzle shutter flange 612a.
Next, a configuration in which the sealing member of the second embodiment is applied to the powder container of the sixth example of the first embodiment will be explained below with reference to
The nozzle receiver 1330 illustrated in
Furthermore, the nozzle receiver 1330 illustrated in
Moreover, in the configuration illustrated in
As described above, it is possible to integrate the structures, such as the scooping inner wall surface, the bridging portion, and the opening 1335b of the shutter supporting portions, for introducing toner to the nozzle hole 610. Incidentally, the same configuration as explained in the above embodiments may be applied to the container seal 1333 of the modification.
As illustrated in
The guiding pieces 1332b are formed to include the pair of the shutter hooks 1332a serving as stoppers (i.e., hooks) at respective ends that are shaped as if they are remained after a cylinder is cut in the axial direction. Therefore, the outer surfaces of the guiding pieces 1332b and the inner surfaces of the guiding pieces 1332b facing the container shutter spring 1336 are curved surfaces.
In contrast, the shutter rear supporting portion 1335 illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
The toner container 1032 including the scooping ribs 304g will be described in detail below.
As illustrated in
The gear exposing hole 1034a (a hole similar to the gear exposing hole 34a) is arranged on the container front end cover 1034 in order to expose the container gear 1301 fixed to the nozzle receiver 1330. The approximately cylindrical container body 1033 holds the nozzle receiver 1330 so that the nozzle receiver 1330 can rotate. The container front end cover 1034 and the rear cover 1035 are fixed to the container body 1033 (by a well-known method, such as thermal welding or adhesive agent). The rear cover 1035 includes the rear side bearing 1035a that supports one end of the conveying blade holder 1330b, and includes the gripper 1303 that a user can grip when he/she attaches and detaches the toner container 1032 to and from the copier 500.
A method to assemble the container front end cover 1034, the rear cover 1035, and the nozzle receiver 1330 on the container body 1033.
The nozzle receiver 1330 is first inserted in the container body 1033 from the container rear end side, and positioning is performed such that the nozzle receiver 1330 is rotatably supported by the front side bearing 1036 arranged on the front end of the container body 1033. Subsequently, positioning is performed such that one end of the conveying blade holder 1330b of the nozzle receiver 1330 is rotatably supported by the rear side bearing 1035a arranged on the rear cover 1035, and the rear cover 1035 is fixed to the container body 1033. Thereafter, the container gear 1301 is fixed to the nozzle receiver 1330 from the container front end side. After the container gear 1301 is fixed, the container front end cover 1034 is fixed to the container body 1033 so as to cover the container gear 1301 from the container front end side.
Incidentally, the fixation between the container body 1033 and the container front end cover 1034, the fixation between the container body 1033 and the rear cover 1035, and the fixation between the nozzle receiver 1330 and the container gear 1301 are performed by appropriately using a well-known method (for example, thermal welding, adhesive agent, or the like).
A configuration for conveying toner from the toner container 1032 to the nozzle hole 610 will be explained below.
The scooping ribs 304g protrude so as to come closer to the inner surface of the container body 1033 such that rib surfaces are continued from downstream ends 1335c of the shutter side supporting portions 1335a in the rotation direction. The rib surfaces are bent once in the middle portions so as to resemble curved surfaces. However, the configuration is not limited to this example depending on the compatibility with toner. For example, simple flat ribs without bend may be used. With this configuration, it becomes not necessary to form a bulged portion in the container body 1033. Furthermore, because the scooping ribs 304g stand from the opening 1335b of the shutter supporting portion in an integrated manner, it becomes possible to obtain the same bridging function and advantageous effects as those obtained by fitting the shutter side supporting portion 335a and the convex 304h.
Specifically, when the nozzle receiver 1330 rotates while the toner container 1032 is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the conveying blades are rotated, so that toner contained in the toner container 1032 is conveyed from the rear end side to the front end side where the nozzle receiver 1330 is arranged. Subsequently, the scooping ribs 304g receive the toner conveyed by the conveying blades 1302, scoop up the toner from bottom to top along with the rotation, and introduce the toner into the nozzle hole 610 by using the rib surfaces as slides.
As described above, even in the configuration in which the sealing member of the second embodiment is applied to the powder container of the sixth example of the first embodiment, the same advantageous effects can be achieved.
The present invention further includes the following aspects.
Aspect A
A nozzle insertion member that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container inside the image forming apparatus is inserted, the nozzle insertion member comprising:
an opening/closing member to move to an opening position so as to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member;
a supporting member to support the opening/closing member so as to guide the opening/closing member to the opening position and the closing position; and
a biasing member that is provided to the supporting member and that biases the opening/closing member toward the closing position, wherein
when the opening/closing member is located at the opening position, relative rotation between an opening formed on the supporting member and an elongated member that is arranged on the opening/closing member and that is inserted in the opening are restricted at least in a rotation direction about a longitudinal axis of the opening/closing member.
Aspect B
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to a powder replenishing device and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to other end where an opening is arranged; and
the nozzle insertion member according to aspect A, wherein
the nozzle insertion member is attached to the powder storage.
Aspect C
A nozzle insertion member that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container inside the image forming apparatus is inserted, the nozzle insertion member comprising:
an opening/closing member to move to an opening position so as to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member;
a supporting member to support the opening/closing member so as to guide the opening/closing member to the opening position and the closing position; and
a biasing member that is provided to the supporting member and that biases the opening/closing member toward the closing position, wherein
the opening/closing member includes a protrusion protruding from an end surface thereof on a front end side of the powder container.
Aspect D
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to a powder replenishing device and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to other end where an opening is arranged; and
the nozzle insertion member according to the aspect D, wherein
the nozzle insertion member is attached to the powder storage.
Aspect E
A nozzle insertion member that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted, the nozzle insertion member comprising:
an opening/closing member to move to an opening position so as to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member;
a supporting member to support the opening/closing member so as to guide the opening/closing member to the opening position and the closing position; and
a biasing member that is provided to the supporting member and that biases the opening/closing member toward the closing position, wherein
when the powder in the powder container is supplied to the conveying nozzle inserted into the nozzle insertion opening along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the rotary conveyor, and
the opening/closing member rotates with rotation of the supporting member and includes a cohesion preventing unit to prevent cohesion of the powder generated due to rotation of the opening/closing member.
Aspect F
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect E, wherein the cohesion preventing unit serves as a drive transmitting mechanism to transmit a rotational force from the supporting member to the opening/closing member.
Aspect G
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect F, wherein
the supporting member is formed with an opening thereon, and
the drive transmitting mechanism includes
Aspect H
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect G, wherein the drive transmitted portion is one of a rib, a flat surface, and a curved surface that extends approximately parallel to a central axis of the elongated member.
Aspect I
The nozzle insertion member according to any one of aspects E to H, wherein
the opening/closing member includes a closure fitting to an inner surface of the nozzle insertion opening to close the nozzle insertion opening at the closing position, and
the supporting member includes
Aspect J
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect E, wherein the cohesion preventing mechanism is a protrusion protruding from an end surface of the opening/closing member on a front end side of the powder container toward a front end of the conveying nozzle and comes in contact with the front end of the conveying nozzle when the powder container is attached to the image forming apparatus.
Aspect K
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect J, wherein the protrusion is arranged so as to be located substantially on a rotation axis of the opening/closing member.
Aspect L
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect J or K, wherein a seal is arranged in a non-contact area in which the protrusion on the end surface of the opening/closing member does not come in contact with the conveying nozzle.
Aspect M
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect L, wherein
a plurality of concaves are arranged in the non-contact area, and
the seal covers the concaves.
Aspect N
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect L or M, wherein the seal is compressed in a thickness direction when the opening/closing member is located at the opening position to open the nozzle insertion opening due to insertion of the conveying nozzle.
Aspect O
The nozzle insertion member according to aspect M or N, wherein a surface of the seal facing the front end of the conveying nozzle has lower friction than other portions of the seal.
Aspect P
A nozzle insertion member that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container inside the image forming apparatus is inserted, the nozzle insertion member comprising:
an opening/closing member to move to an opening position so as to open the nozzle insertion opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the nozzle insertion opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle insertion member;
a supporting member to support the opening/closing member so as to guide the opening/closing member to the opening position and the closing position; and
a biasing member that is provided to the supporting member and that biases the opening/closing member toward the closing position, wherein
the powder in the powder container is supplied to the conveying nozzle inserted in the nozzle insertion opening along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container,
the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the rotary conveyor,
the opening/closing member rotates with rotation of the supporting member, the opening/closing member including
Aspect Q
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to a powder replenishing device and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to other end where an opening is arranged; and
the nozzle insertion member according to any one of aspects E to P, wherein
the nozzle insertion member is attached to the powder storage.
Aspect R
An image forming apparatus comprising:
the powder container according to aspect Q; and
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer by using the powder conveyed from the powder container.
Aspect A1
A nozzle receiver that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a receiving opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted, the nozzle receiver comprising:
a container shutter to move to an opening position so as to open the receiving opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the receiving opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle receiver;
a container shutter supporter to support the container shutter so as to guide the container shutter to the opening position and the closing position, the container shutter supporter being formed with an opening thereon; and
a container shutter spring that is provided to the container shutter supporter and that biases the container shutter toward the closing position, wherein
when the powder in the powder container is supplied to the conveying nozzle inserted into the receiving opening along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the container shutter supporter rotates with the rotation of the rotary conveyor,
the container shutter is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism along with rotation of the container shutter supporter,
the drive transmitting mechanism includes
Aspect A2
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A1, wherein the drive transmitted portion is one of a rib, a flat surface, and a curved surface that extends approximately parallel to a central axis of the rod member.
Aspect A3
The nozzle receiver according Aspect A1, wherein the container shutter spring is arranged within the container shutter supporter.
Aspect A4
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to a powder replenishing device and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to other end where an opening is arranged; and
the nozzle receiver according to Aspect A1, wherein
the nozzle receiver is attached to the powder storage.
Aspect A5
An image forming apparatus comprising:
the powder container according to Aspect A4; and
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer by using the powder conveyed from the powder container.
Aspect A6
A nozzle receiver that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a receiving opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted, the nozzle receiver comprising:
a container shutter to move to an opening position so as to open the receiving opening by being pressed by the conveying nozzle thus inserted, and to a closing position so as to close the receiving opening when the conveying nozzle is separated from the nozzle receiver;
a container shutter supporter to support the container shutter so as to guide the container shutter to the opening position and the closing position;
a container shutter spring that is provided to the container shutter supporter and that biases the container shutter toward the closing position; and
a protrusion that protrudes from an end surface of the container shutter on a front end side of the powder container toward a front end of the conveying nozzle and comes in contact with the front end of the conveying nozzle when the powder container is attached to the image forming apparatus, wherein
when the powder in the powder container is supplied to the conveying nozzle inserted into the receiving opening along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the container shutter supporter rotates with the rotation of the rotary conveyor, and
the container shutter rotates with rotation of the container shutter supporter.
Aspect A7
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A6, wherein the protrusion is arranged so as to be located substantially on a rotation axis of the container shutter.
Aspect A8
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A6, wherein a seal is arranged in a non-contact area in which the protrusion on the end surface of the container shutter does not come in contact with the conveying nozzle.
Aspect A9
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A8, wherein
a plurality of concaves are provided in the non-contact area, and
the seal covers the concaves.
Aspect A10
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A8, wherein the seal is compressed in a thickness direction when the container shutter is located at the opening position to open the receiving opening due to insertion of the conveying nozzle.
Aspect A11
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A8, wherein a surface of the seal facing the front end of the conveying nozzle has lower friction than other portions of the seal.
Aspect A12
The nozzle receiver according Aspect A6, wherein the container shutter spring is arranged within the container shutter supporter.
Aspect A13
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to a powder replenishing device and to convey the powder by a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder storage from one end in a rotation axis direction of the rotary conveyor to other end where an opening is arranged; and
the nozzle receiver according to Aspect A6, wherein
the nozzle receiver is attached to the powder storage.
Aspect A14
An image forming apparatus comprising:
the powder container according to Aspect A13; and
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer by using the powder conveyed from the powder container.
Aspect A15
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A6, wherein the container shutter is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism along with rotation of the container shutter supporter.
Aspect A16
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A15, wherein
the container shutter supporter is formed with an opening thereon, and
the drive transmitting mechanism includes
Aspect A17
A nozzle insertion member that is arranged in a powder container used in an image forming apparatus and that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted, the nozzle insertion member comprising:
a moving member to move in an insertion direction in which the conveying nozzle is inserted, along with insertion of the conveying nozzle; and
a supporting member to support the moving member so as to guide the moving member in the insertion direction, the supporting member being formed with an opening thereon, wherein
when the powder in the powder container is supplied to the conveying nozzle inserted into the nozzle insertion opening along with rotation of a rotary conveyor arranged inside the powder container, the supporting member rotates with the rotation of the rotary conveyor,
the moving member is rotated by a drive transmitting mechanism along with rotation of the supporting member,
the drive transmitting mechanism includes
Aspect A18
The nozzle insertion member according to Aspect A17, further comprising a biasing member that is provided to the supporting member and that biases the moving member toward the conveying nozzle being inserted.
Aspect A19
The powder container according to Aspect A4, wherein the powder storage comprises toner.
Aspect A20
The powder container according to Aspect A13, wherein the powder storage comprises toner.
Aspect A21
The powder container according to Aspect A4, wherein the powder storage comprises developer including toner and carrier particle.
Aspect A22
The powder container according to Aspect A13, wherein the powder storage comprises developer including toner and carrier particle.
Aspect S
A sealing member arranged on a circumference of an opening/closing member that moves from a closing position for closing a nozzle insertion opening of a powder container to an opening position for opening the nozzle insertion opening due to a contact with a conveying nozzle of an image forming apparatus, wherein
the sealing member is formed such that a foam density of a downstream side in a first moving direction in which the opening/closing member moves from the closing position to the opening position is higher than a foam density of an upstream side,
the sealing member is formed with a penetrated portion through which the opening/closing member and a nozzle opening/closing member arranged on an outer side of the conveying nozzle penetrate in the first moving direction,
an inner circumference of the penetrated portion serves as a sliding-contact surface that comes in sliding-contact with an outer circumference of the opening/closing member due to movement of the opening/closing member from the closing position to the opening position and that rotates relative to an outer circumference of the nozzle opening/closing member while coming in sliding-contact with the outer circumference of the nozzle opening/closing member at the opening position, and
the sliding-contact surface is formed such that a frictional force of the upstream side in the first moving direction becomes lower than a frictional force of the downstream side.
Aspect Sa
A sealing member arranged on a circumference of an opening/closing member that moves from a closing position for closing a nozzle insertion opening of a powder container to an opening position for opening the nozzle insertion opening due to a contact with a conveying nozzle of an image forming apparatus, wherein
the sealing member is formed such that a foam density of a downstream side in a first moving direction in which the opening/closing member moves from the closing position to the opening position is higher than a foam density of an upstream side, and
the sealing member is formed with a penetrated portion through which the opening/closing member and a nozzle opening/closing member arranged on an outer side of the conveying nozzle penetrate in the first moving direction.
Aspect Sb
The sealing member according to Aspect Sa, further comprising an inner circumference of the penetrated portion serves as a sliding-contact surface that comes in sliding-contact with an outer circumference of the opening/closing member due to movement of the opening/closing member from the closing position to the opening position and that rotates relative to an outer circumference of the nozzle opening/closing member while coming in sliding-contact with the outer circumference of the nozzle opening/closing member at the opening position.
Aspect Sc
The sealing member according to Aspect Sb, wherein the sliding-contact surface is formed such that a frictional force of the upstream side in the first moving direction becomes lower than a frictional force of the downstream side.
Aspect Sd
The sealing member according to Aspect Sb, wherein W1<W2<W3 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the penetrated portion, W2 is an outer diameter of the nozzle opening/closing member, and W3 is an outer diameter of the opening/closing member.
Aspect T
The sealing member according to aspect S, wherein
a first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction is made with microcellular polymer, and
a second layer on the upstream side in the first moving direction is made with expanded polyurethane.
Aspect U
The sealing member according to aspect S or T, wherein
the sealing member is formed of two layers, one of which is the second layer on the upstream side in the first moving direction and the first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction,
a total thickness of the first layer and the second layer is in a range from 4 millimeters to 30 millimeters, and
a thickness of the first layer is in a range of 1 millimeter to 4 millimeters.
Aspect V
The sealing member according to any one of aspects S, T, and U, wherein
a deformation amount of the first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction is in a range from 1.6 millimeters to 2.2 millimeters, and
a deformation amount of the second layer on the upstream side in the first moving direction is in a range from 1.9 millimeters to 2.2 millimeters.
Aspect W
The sealing member according to any one of aspects S, T, U, and V, wherein W1<W2<W3 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the penetrated portion, W2 is an outer diameter of the nozzle opening/closing member, and W3 is an outer diameter of the opening/closing member.
Aspect X
The sealing member according to aspects S, T, U, V, and W, wherein the first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction is in contact with an inclined surface that extends outward from the outer circumference of the opening/closing member.
Aspect Y
The sealing member according to any one of aspects S, T, U, V, W, and X, wherein a vertical surface of the sealing member on the upstream side in the first moving direction serves as an abutting surface that abuts against a protrusion of the nozzle opening/closing member, the protrusion protruding outward from an outer surface of the nozzle opening/closing member.
Aspect Z
The sealing member according to aspect Y, wherein the sealing member is pressed and deformed in the first moving direction when the protrusion of the nozzle opening/closing member abuts against the abutting surface.
Aspect AA
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to an image forming apparatus;
a nozzle insertion member that includes a nozzle insertion opening into which a conveying nozzle of the image forming apparatus is inserted and which is arranged inside the nozzle insertion opening;
an opening/closing member that is arranged on the nozzle insertion member, that is biased toward a closing position for closing the nozzle insertion opening, and that opens the nozzle insertion opening along with insertion of the conveying nozzle; and
the sealing member according to any one of aspects S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.
Aspect AB
The powder container according to aspect AA, wherein
the nozzle insertion member includes a portion having an inner cylindrical space in which the sealing member is arranged,
the portion includes a plurality of convexes that come in contact with an outer circumference of the sealing member and that are arranged along the outer circumference of the sealing member, and
a vertical surface of the sealing member on the upstream side in the first moving direction protrudes toward the upstream side in the first moving direction relative to ends of the convexes on the upstream side in the first moving direction.
Aspect AC
The powder container according to aspect AA, wherein
the nozzle insertion member includes a portion having an inner cylindrical space in which the sealing member is arranged,
the portion includes a plurality of convexes that come in contact with an outer circumference of the sealing member and that are arranged along the outer circumference of the sealing member, and
an outer diameter of the sealing member is greater than an inner diameter of a circle formed by the convexes.
Aspect AD
The powder container according to aspect AA, wherein
the opening/closing member includes a front cylindrical portion that comes in contact with a sliding-contact surface of the sealing member, and includes a slide area that is formed on a downstream side relative to the front cylindrical portion in the first moving direction and on outer side of the front cylindrical portion,
a part of an outer circumference of the slide area serves as a contact surface that comes in surface-contact with an inner surface of the nozzle insertion member along the inner surface.
Aspect AE
The powder container according to aspect AA, wherein the powder storage includes a rotary conveyor to convey powder contained in the powder container from one end in a rotation axis direction along with rotation of the powder container to other end where an opening is arranged.
Aspect AF
The powder container according to aspect AA, wherein the powder storage includes a conveyor to rotate relative to the powder storage, and conveys powder contained in the powder container from one end in a rotation axis direction along with rotation of the conveyor to other end where opening is arranged.
Aspect AG
An image forming apparatus comprising:
a powder container according to any one of aspects AA, AB, AC, AD, AE, and AF;
a conveying nozzle to convey toner in the powder container to the image forming apparatus; and
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer with the toner conveyed by the conveying nozzle.
Aspect S1
A container seal arranged on a circumference of a container shutter that moves from a closing position for closing a receiving opening of a powder container to an opening position for opening the receiving opening due to a contact with a conveying nozzle of an image forming apparatus, wherein
the container seal is formed such that a foam density of a downstream side in a first moving direction in which the container shutter moves from the closing position to the opening position is higher than a foam density of an upstream side,
the container seal is formed with a penetrated portion through which the container shutter and a nozzle shutter arranged on an outer side of the conveying nozzle penetrate in the first moving direction,
an inner circumference of the penetrated portion serves as a sliding-contact surface that comes in sliding-contact with an outer circumference of the container shutter due to movement of the container shutter from the closing position to the opening position and that rotates relative to an outer circumference of the nozzle shutter while coming in sliding-contact with the outer circumference of the nozzle shutter at the opening position, and
the sliding-contact surface is formed such that a frictional force of the upstream side in the first moving direction becomes lower than a frictional force of the downstream side.
Aspect T1
The container seal according to aspect S1, wherein
a first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction is made with microcellular polymer, and
a second layer on the upstream side in the first moving direction is made with expanded polyurethane.
Aspect U1
The container seal according to aspect S1 or T1, wherein
the container seal is formed of two layers, one of which is the second layer on the upstream side in the first moving direction and the first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction,
a total thickness of the first layer and the second layer is in a range from 4 millimeters to 30 millimeters, and
a thickness of the first layer is in a range of 1 millimeter to 4 millimeters.
Aspect V1
The container seal according to any one of aspects S1, T1, and U1, wherein
a deformation amount of the first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction is in a range from 1.6 millimeters to 2.2 millimeters, and
a deformation amount of the second layer on the upstream side in the first moving direction is in a range from 1.9 millimeters to 2.2 millimeters.
Aspect W1
The container seal according to any one of aspects S1, T1, U1, and V1, wherein W1<W2<W3 is satisfied, where W1 is an inner diameter of the penetrated portion, W2 is an outer diameter of the nozzle shutter, and W3 is an outer diameter of the container shutter.
Aspect X1
The container seal according to aspects S1, T1, U1, V1, and W1, wherein the first layer on the downstream side in the first moving direction is in contact with an inclined surface that extends outward from the outer circumference of the container shutter.
Aspect Y1
The container seal according to any one of aspects S1, T1, U1, V1, W1, and X1, wherein a vertical surface of the container seal on the upstream side in the first moving direction serves as an abutting surface that abuts against a protrusion of the nozzle shutter, the protrusion protruding outward from an outer surface of the nozzle shutter.
Aspect Z1
The container seal according to aspect Y1, wherein the container seal is pressed and deformed in the first moving direction when the protrusion of the nozzle shutter abuts against the abutting surface.
Aspect AA1
A powder container comprising:
a powder storage to store therein powder to be supplied to an image forming apparatus;
a nozzle receiver that includes a receiving opening into which a conveying nozzle of the image forming apparatus is inserted and which is arranged inside the receiving opening;
a container shutter that is arranged on the nozzle receiver, that is biased toward a closing position for closing the receiving opening, and that opens the receiving opening along with insertion of the conveying nozzle; and
the container seal according to any one of aspects S1, T1, U1, V1, W1, X1, Y1, and Z1.
Aspect AB1
The powder container according to aspect AA1, wherein
the nozzle receiver includes a portion having an inner cylindrical space in which the container seal is arranged,
the portion includes a plurality of convexes that come in contact with an outer circumference of the container seal and that are arranged along the outer circumference of the container seal, and
a vertical surface of the container seal on the upstream side in the first moving direction protrudes toward the upstream side in the first moving direction relative to ends of the convexes on the upstream side in the first moving direction.
Aspect AC1
The powder container according to aspect AA1, wherein
the nozzle receiver includes a portion having an inner cylindrical space in which the container seal is arranged,
the portion includes a plurality of convexes that come in contact with an outer circumference of the container seal and that are arranged along the outer circumference of the container seal, and
an outer diameter of the container seal is greater than an inner diameter of a circle formed by the convexes.
Aspect AD1
The powder container according to aspect AA1, wherein
the container shutter includes a front cylindrical portion that comes in contact with a sliding-contact surface of the container seal, and includes a slide area that is formed on a downstream side relative to the front cylindrical portion in the first moving direction and on outer side of the front cylindrical portion,
a part of an outer circumference of the slide area serves as a contact surface that comes in surface-contact with an inner surface of the nozzle receiver along the inner surface.
Aspect AE1
The powder container according to aspect AA1, wherein the powder storage includes a rotary conveyor to convey powder contained in the powder container from one end in a rotation axis direction along with rotation of the powder container to other end where an opening is arranged.
Aspect AF1
The powder container according to aspect AA1, wherein the powder storage includes a conveyor to rotate relative to the powder storage, and conveys powder contained in the powder container from one end in a rotation axis direction along with rotation of the conveyor to other end where opening is arranged.
Aspect AG1
An image forming apparatus comprising:
a powder container according to any one of aspects AA1, AB1, AC1, AD1, AE1, and AF1;
a conveying nozzle to convey toner in the powder container to the image forming apparatus; and
an image forming unit to form an image on an image bearer with the toner conveyed by the conveying nozzle.
According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the cohesion preventing mechanism that prevents a powder cohesion from being formed along with rotation of the powder storage. Therefore, it becomes possible to reduce a load on the powder to the minimum, enabling to prevent a cohesion.
Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.
Tamaki, Shinji, Yamabe, Junji, Kikuchi, Kenji, Katoh, Shunji
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